Are you ready for a puppy? Take this quiz to find out.Some free advice as you begin life with your new Basset:

1. Find a good veterinarian. It is a great help and support to have a good vet that knows you and your dog and can answer your questions and provide quality preventative care. It is extremely important that your puppy gets all of his shots (at 9, 12, & 15 weeks). (He will have had his 6 week shot already). You will want to include Bordatella in the 9 & 12 week shots and rabies at 15 weeks. My vet no longer recommends Lepto. or Corona be given. Your puppy has had his first heartworm preventative and you will need to continue giving it monthly. Do worming as needed. PLEASE do not exposeyour puppy to dogs outside your home, the park, Petsmart, etc.until he has had ALL of his shots at 15-16 weeks. Until that time your puppy is susceptible to Parvo just by walking in an area infected by urine/feces from a dog with Parvo, or being exposed to a dog with Parvo. or carrying Parvo. (it is ok to take him to a friend or relative's home with dogs that you know are up to date on their immunizations but not to public places).

2. While your Basset is still a puppy (and small) it is very important to get him used to three care treatments: having his nails clipped, having his ears cleaned and having his teeth brushed.These three things are essential to your Basset’s health and regular care. When puppies learn to have this done weekly they don’t resist as grown dogs. (But if you don’t teach them as puppies you may have a 50-60lb. dog to wrestle and this can be nearly impossible).

Nail clipping is easy to learn and if not done regularly the nails grow very long and are very tough to clip back.

Ears must be cleaned at least every two weeks, as Bassets are prone to get ear infections due to their long ears. (Once a week is best !)****A good and inexpensive solution for ear cleaning is equal partsrubbing alcohol and white vinegar. (Recommended by my vet). Squirt into their ear and use only paper towel or cotton balls soaked in alcohol to wipe it out and insert in ear canal. You can injure them with a Q tip. It is best to rotate this homemade solution with Opti-Clens, Epi-Otic or another solution purchased from your vet.

Tooth brushing may sound silly but if you don't do this regularly your dog will have bad or infected teeth So begin NOW and save yourself a lot of hassle later. (use ONLY DOG toothpaste)Dental chews purchased from your vet are another easy alternative to tooth brushing.

3. Do some basic obedience training while your Basset is young and small. They must be taught not to jump up on people beginning now or when they are BIG they will hurt you or knock a child over jumping up. They are so friendly, glad to see you and want to be loved but teach your puppy to sit for petting. You can take a puppy basic obedience class at Petsmart or Petco. It is well worth the money and the time to have a well-trained dog. Bassets are very smart but also strong willed so obedience training is a great help in dealing with any of their behaviors.

4. Feed a good quality food. After trying several of the well known brands I now feed Eukanuba Large Breed, IAMS Large Breed and Purina One Large Breed. You get what you pay for and will actually save money because you will feed less food and get higher nutrition if you feed a premium food. You will have fewer vet bills because your dog will be getting better nutrition. BE SURE TO FEED LARGE BREED FORMULA PUPPY FOOD to your Basset from puppy until 12-14 months old and (then switch to Large Breed Adult).This food is formulated for the special needs of fast growing large breeds like Bassets. You will see a difference in how your dog grows and develops if you feed a high quality food. Remember if you decide to change food brands you must do so gradually to keep your puppy from getting diarrhea.

5. Your first few nights with your puppy...give him the toy we gave you to comfort him. Leaving on a radio in his room overnight with quiet music (no head banging) may also soothe him as he adjusts to being away from his mom and his siblings. Putting him in a crate next to your bed is also a good solution. He needs lots of attention but also quiet time to rest.

6. I would like to recommend the following books as wonderful resources for the Basset hound owner:

Basset Hounds—Everything about Purchase, Care, Nutrition,Breeding, Behavior, and Training. By Joe Stahlkuppe This book covers it all…care, housetraining, basic obedience,health care…and all related to the Basset.

The Basset Hound Owner’s Survival Guide by Diane MorganThis book is full of wonderful information on Bassets and totally hilarious anedotes from Basset owners. I laughed so hard that I cried and I related to all of the stories.

A New Owner’s Guide to Basset Hounds by Joan Urban.Another very comprehensive book concerning Bassets.How to Raise the Perfect Dog Through Puppyhood and Beyondby Cesar MillanThis book should be required reading for everyone getting a puppy of any breed. It is full of excellent information to help you train your puppy correctly from the beginning to avoid a lot of typical dog issues that can develop later in life. I have incorporated many of Cesar's ideas into preparing my puppies for their families.

Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbookby Liisa Carlson, DVM and James M. Giffin, M.D.Every dog owner should have this book. It will save you a lot of worry and unnecessary visits to the vet. Also helps you to know when to be concerned and teaches good preventative care.

****any of these books and more can be found on the internet at Amazon.com.. You can get very good prices on used copies.